Shoe construction



July `l0, 1945. w. BRAUN 2,380,146

SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. l, 1942 WL rae EEA UN, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE CONSTRUCTION Walter Braun, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 1, 1942, Serial No. 456,899

2 Claims.

My invention relates to shoe construction wherein a soft insole and upper are stitched together, a platform cover is attached, and forcelasted with a platform (usually of cushioning material) the lower edges of the cover being turned under the platform, and an outsole attached to the bottom of the platform.

Heretofore this type of shoe has been made with the platform cover effectively no wider than the thickness of the platform, without any counter or stiffener for heel or box toe, and with the Seam f the Upper and insole and the platform cover exposed and unprotected.

It is an object of my invention to provide `a shoe construction of the general character described wherein a number of improvements are incorporated, as for example I provide a combined platform cover and mudguard which serves as an edge cover for the platform or cushioning pad and extends a substantial distance up the sides of the upper to protect the same. A further result accomplished is protection of the seam by which the upper and insole are stitched together, and my construction also enables the use of a heel counter or stiffener, as well as a toe counter or stiifener providing for a box toe, the stiifener being retained between the mudguard and platform cover and the edge of the platform or pad.

A further and more particular object of my invention is to facilitate the manmacture of a shoe of the character described by means of the novel construction employed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe embodying my invention, broken away in part near the heel portion.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the toe portion of the shoe taken longitudinally therethrough.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one stage of construction wherein the upper and the combined mudguard and platform cover are stitched together.

Figure 5 is an exploded sectional View generally similar to that of Figure 3 illustrating the manufacture of the shoe.

My shoe I0 comprises an upper II,-an insole I2, a platform or cushioning pad I3, a combined mudguard and platform edge cover I4, and an outsole I5. I also illustrate a heel stlifener or counter I6 and a toe stiffener or counter I1.

The upper may be of any desired style or pattern and is cut so the lower edges thereof may extend at least part way down along the edges 20 of the platform or cushioning pad.

The platform cover I4 is stitched to the upper all the way around as at 2 I.

This combined mudguard and platform cover I4 is a strip of material which may be either similar to the upper or any other suitable material, and may harmonize or contrast therewith in color or pattern depending upon the artistic effect desired. It should be wide enough so that attachment to the upper may occur along a line substantially above the insole when the shoe is assembled and allowing a lower marginal edge to turn. under the platform. If a heel 22 is to be employed, the mudguard and pad cover should have an increased width around the heel section to completely cover the latter.

After the mudguard and platform cover is stitched to the upper I next stitch an insole around the lower edge of the upper. (The sequence of attaching the mudguard and the insole to the upper may be reversed but I find it more convenient to perform these operations in the order herein described.) The insole is preferably a soft, flexible material suitable for turning down the edges as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5 and is cut oversize to provide for such turning down. The stitching of the upper and insole is illustrated at 25. After the upper, the mudguardplatform cover and the insole have been stitched as described and illustrated, in the fitting room, the shoe is placed on a last, and the platform or cushioning pad I3 is located. It is desirable that the upper surface of this pad be cemented to the lower surface of the insole, although this is not essential.

The stitched edges of the upper and insole are then turned over the edge 20 of the platform or pad, and the combined mudguard and cover strip I4 is brought down over the upper and the platform and its lower edges 26 turned under the platform and cemented or otherwise attached thereto. If counters I6 and I'I or either of them are used, they are inserted before the strip I4 is turned down, to be positioned between the cover strip I4 and the turned down upper and insole, and preferably overlap at least a part of the edge 20 of the platform as well as extending somewhat above the upper surface of the insole. If the heel 22 is used it may also be attached to the lower face of the platform preliminary to the turning of the cover strip edgesI thereunder, the cover strip in such case being turned under the heel from the fore point where the heel Joins the platform. The heel may be preformed integrally with the platform or may be laminated and may be made either of cushioning material similar to that of the platform or of a different material either resilient or hard.- K

The outsole Il is preferably cemented to the bottom of the platform and the turned in exposed edges of theA platform cover, or it may be stitched through the platform and insole, or otherwiselsecured upon the bottom of the platform.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention. which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures. Z 'I'he essence of my invention resides in a shoe construction and method employing a platform element. of an upper and insole stitched together and overlying the platform with the edges of the insole turned down along the outside edge of the platform, and a combined mudguard and platform cover strip the upper edge of which is secured to the upper at a substantial distance above the seam joining the upper and insole and also substantially above the upper face of the insole itself, with its lower edges turned under and secured to the lower face of the platform (and lowervface of the heel if a heel or heel lift is employed), whereby the seam joining the upper and insole, as well as the lower portion of the upper, is protected against abrasion, -moisture, and other deteriorating effects. By allowing for the marginal edges of thev insole stitched to the upper to be turned down over the edge of the platform, I not only facilitate and simplify the work in the fitting room, but by pulling the upper and cover strip over a last inserted at that juncture of manufacture, obtain a lasted shoe.

The force lasting of a shoe of this type assures a good fit and permanent set to the shoe.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shoe construction embodying a relatively thick platform, an upper and a soft flexible insole stitched together, the latter overlying the platform with the edge portion of the insole turned down against the outside edge portion of the platform and the lower edge portion of the upper lying flat against the turned down edge portion of the insole, and a combined mudguard and platform cover strip the upper edge of which is secured to the upper at a substantial distance above the seam Joining the upper and insole and Aalso substantially above the upper surface of the l thick platform-an upper and a soft flexible insole stitched together, the latter overlying the platform with the edge portion of the insole turned down against the outside edge portion of the platform and the lower edge portion of the upper lying at against the turned down edge portion of the insole, a combined mudguard and platform cover strip the upper edge of which is secured to the upper at a substantial distance above the seam joining the upper and insole and also substantially above the upper surface of the insole itself and lying flat against said upper throughout the area common to both, with the lower edge of said cover strip turned under and secured to the lower face of the platform whereby the seam Joining the upper and insole as well as vthe lower portion of the upper is covered by the cover stripand protected against abrasion, moisture and other deteriorating effects, an outsole attached to the lower surface of the platform and in-turned edges of said cover strip, and a counter between the outer surface of the upper and the inner surface of said cover strip and protectively overlying the adjacent stitching of said upper and said insole.

WALTER BRAUN. 

